2012 Media Releases

Date:

February 13, 2012

For More Information Contact:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831

Mayor Presents January Award of Excellence

Mayor Chris Beutler today presented the Mayor's Award of Excellence for January to Jeff Janda, a StarTran Bus Operator in the Public Works and Utilities Department. The monthly award recognizes City employees who consistently provide exemplary service and work that demonstrates personal commitment to the City. The award was presented at the beginning of today's City Council meeting.

Janda has worked for the City since December 2009. Co-worker Toni Kent nominated him in the category of valor for his quick action December 11 to help a bus patron needing medical attention. Janda noticed a man who had boarded his bus had difficulty running his boarding pass through the fare box. Janda asked him twice if he was all right, but the man did not respond. He then collapsed and began to have a seizure. Janda immediately called the dispatcher and requested medical assistance. When the seizure ended about 20 seconds later, Janda confirmed that the man did have a pulse.

While waiting for Lincoln Fire and Rescue (LF&R), he placed the unconscious and unresponsive man on the sidewalk and laid him on his side. After one to two minutes, the man regained consciousness and became combative, but Janda was able to keep him calm until medical help arrived. Jeff helped LF&R assess the man's condition and remained with the passenger until he was transported to the hospital. Janda has no medical training, but he said it just made sense to take the action he did. Kent said Janda went above and beyond his duty to take these potentially life-saving actions.

The other categories in which employees can be nominated are productivity, customer relations, loss prevention and safety. Consideration also may be given to nominations that demonstrate self-initiated accomplishments or those completed outside of the nominee's job description. All City employees are eligible for the Mayor's Award of Excellence except for elected and appointed officials. Individuals or teams can be nominated by supervisors, peers, subordinates and the general public. Nomination forms are available at lincoln.ne.gov (keyword: personnel) or from department heads, employee bulletin boards or the Personnel Department, which oversees the awards program.

All nominations are reviewed by the Mayor's Award of Excellence Committee, which includes a representative with each union and a non-union representative appointed by the Mayor. Award winners receive a $100 U.S. savings bond, a day off with pay and a plaque. Monthly winners are eligible to receive the annual award, which comes with a $500 U.S. savings bond, two days off with pay and a plaque.